How Streptomycin Works and Its Importance in Medicine
Streptomycin is known to be an antibiotic that is used to treat bacterial infections such as tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium complex, endocarditis, brucellosis, Burkholderia infection, plague, tularemia, and rat bite fever. Streptomycin is an antibiotic that is produced by the soil organism Streptomyces griseus. Selman Waksman, Albert Schatz, and Elizabeth Bugie, three American biochemists, discovered streptomycin in 1943. The drug works by interfering with a microorganism's ability to synthesise certain essential proteins.
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It was the first antimicrobial agent discovered after penicillin and the first antibiotic effective against tuberculosis. Streptomycin was widely used because it was effective against a wide range of diseases; as a result, many initially sensitive microorganisms, including the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, developed resistance to the antibiotic. It is used in conjunction with penicillin to treat infections of heart valves (endocarditis), and it is used in conjunction with tetracyclines to treat plague, tularemia, and brucellosis.
Streptomycin Medicine Uses
This medication is used in conjunction with various other medications to treat active tuberculosis (that is also known as TB) infection, if you are unable to take other TB medications or if you have a type of TB that cannot be treated with other medications (drug-resistant TB). Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic, which is a type of antibiotic. It kills the organisms that cause the infection. Along with other medications, this streptomycin drug may be used to treat other serious infections (e.g., Mycobacterium avium complex-MAC, tularemia, endocarditis, plague).
Streptomycin Tuberculosis
Streptomycin is also used for tuberculosis treatment when one or more of the preceding drugs is contraindicated due to toxicity or intolerance. As a result of rising rates of drug resistance and concurrent HIV infection, tuberculosis management has become more complicated.
Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic derived from Streptomyces griseus that is used to treat tuberculosis and other Gram-negative infections.
Medication for tuberculosis is typically taken for 9 months or longer. After taking streptomycin on a daily basis for 1 to 2 months, your doctor may advise you to take it less frequently (e.g., 2 to 3 times a week).
Penicillin and Streptomycin
Alexander Fleming discovered that mould from the genus Penicillium inhibited the growth of bacteria in 1928. This unknown antibacterial substance was dubbed penicillin by Fleming. Ten years later, a group of researchers at Oxford University began studying penicillin in laboratory mice. During World War II, penicillin was hailed as a miracle drug that saved countless lives.
Penicillin antibiotics are available as
tablets,
capsules,
powder for oral suspension, and
powder for injection.
Penicillin antibiotics prevent bacteria from multiplying by preventing the formation of the walls that surround them. The walls protect the bacteria from their surroundings and keep the contents of the bacterial cell together. Bacteria cannot survive in the absence of a cell wall. When bacteria are actively multiplying and forming cell walls, penicillin antibiotics are most effective.
Penicillin is a common antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections caused by staphylococci and streptococci. Penicillin is a member of the beta-lactam antibiotic family, which uses a similar mechanism of action to inhibit bacterial cell growth, eventually killing the bacteria.
Streptomycin Price
The average price for 1 Solution Reconstituted, 1gm is \[\$\]100.89. By using the WebMDRx coupon, you can purchase streptomycin sulphate for \[\$\]85.00, a 16 percent savings. Even if this medication is covered by Medicare or your insurance, we recommend that you shop around for the best price.
Streptomycin Side-Effects
Nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, or loss of appetite are all possible side effects. The injection site may experience pain, irritation, or redness. Inform your doctor or pharmacist right away if any of these side effects persist or worsen.
Remember that your doctor prescribed this medication because he or she believes the benefit to you outweighs the risk of side effects. Many people who take this medication do not experience serious side effects.
Notify your doctor right away if you experience any serious side effects, such as muscle weakness, persistent diarrhoea even after discontinuing this medication, easy bleeding/bruising, rapid heartbeat, new signs of infection (e.g., high fever, persistent cough), signs of kidney problems (such as a change in urine volume), or unusual tiredness.
Long-term or repeated use of this medication may result in oral thrush or a new vaginal yeast infection. If you notice white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal discharge, or any other new symptoms, consult your doctor.
Streptomycin Treatment
This medication is used in conjunction with various other medications to treat active tuberculosis (TB) infection if you are unable to take other TB medications or if you have a type of TB that cannot be treated with other medications (drug-resistant TB). Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic, which is a type of antibiotic.
Spectinomycin Streptomycin
In some cases, spectinomycin can be used instead of streptomycin because it is more stable; however, when increased stability is not required, streptomycin should be used because it is much more cost-effective.
Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. It kills bacteria by inhibiting the ability of 30S ribosomal subunits to produce proteins. Streptomycin was isolated from Streptomyces griseus by Albert Schatz in 1943. Streptomycin is on the WHO's List of Essential Medicines.
Hormone Streptomycin
Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic, which is a type of antibiotic. It kills the organisms that cause the infection.
Along with other medications, this drug may be used to treat other serious infections (e.g., Mycobacterium avium complex -MAC, tularemia, endocarditis, plague).
FAQs on Streptomycin: Key Antibiotic in Biology
1. What is Streptomycin and from which microorganism is it obtained?
Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. It was the first antibiotic discovered to be effective against tuberculosis. As per the NCERT syllabus for Class 12, it is a classic example of an antibiotic produced by a microorganism. It is obtained from the actinomycete bacterium Streptomyces griseus.
2. How does Streptomycin's mechanism of action kill bacteria?
Streptomycin works by binding to the 30S subunit of the bacterial ribosome. This action interferes with protein synthesis in several ways:
- It causes misreading of the mRNA genetic code.
- It prevents the formation of the initiation complex between mRNA and the ribosome.
3. What are the primary medical uses of Streptomycin?
Streptomycin is primarily used to treat serious bacterial infections. Its most notable use is in the combination therapy for tuberculosis (TB). It is also effective against other infections, including:
- Plague (caused by Yersinia pestis)
- Tularemia (caused by Francisella tularensis)
- Endocarditis (in combination with other antibiotics)
4. Why is Streptomycin administered via injection and not taken orally?
Streptomycin is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. This means if it were taken as a pill, very little of the drug would enter the bloodstream to fight an infection. Therefore, to ensure it reaches effective concentrations in the body, it must be administered directly via an intramuscular (IM) injection.
5. What are the significant side effects associated with Streptomycin use?
The use of Streptomycin can lead to some serious side effects, which is why its use is carefully monitored. The two main concerns are:
- Ototoxicity: Damage to the ear, which can cause permanent hearing loss and balance problems (vertigo).
- Nephrotoxicity: Damage to the kidneys, which can impair their function.
6. How does Streptomycin differ from Penicillin?
Streptomycin and Penicillin are both famous antibiotics but differ significantly. Penicillin is a β-lactam antibiotic that works by inhibiting bacterial cell wall synthesis. In contrast, Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside that works by inhibiting protein synthesis at the ribosomal level. Furthermore, Penicillin is primarily effective against gram-positive bacteria, while Streptomycin has a broader spectrum that includes many gram-negative bacteria.
7. Why was the discovery of Streptomycin a major milestone in medicine?
The discovery of Streptomycin by Selman Waksman in 1943 was a revolutionary event in medicine primarily because it was the first effective treatment for tuberculosis. Before Streptomycin, TB was often a fatal disease with no reliable cure. Its discovery not only saved countless lives but also ushered in the "golden age" of antibiotics, leading to the discovery of many other drugs from microorganisms.
8. How have bacteria developed resistance to Streptomycin?
Bacteria can develop resistance to Streptomycin through genetic mutations. The most common mechanism involves a change in the bacterial ribosome's structure, specifically in the 30S subunit where Streptomycin binds. This alteration prevents the antibiotic from attaching effectively, rendering it useless. As a result, the bacteria can continue to synthesise proteins normally and survive even in the presence of the drug.
